A peaceful back-to-school mass turned into a nightmare Wednesday morning when gunfire ripped through the Annunciation Catholic School’s church in Minneapolis, leaving two young children dead and 17 others injured, including 14 kids.
Authorities say the victims include an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old who were killed instantly when a lone gunman opened fire through the church windows during a packed service. Two other children remain in critical condition.
The shooter, whose identity has not yet been released, died by suicide at the back of the church, police confirmed.
Parents and residents are reeling from the tragedy.
“I was having breakfast with my daughter when we heard dozens of gunshots over two, maybe three minutes,” said Brian Leege, who lives just two blocks from the school. “It sounded like fireworks at first, but then the screaming started.”
Emily Feste, whose niece and nephew attend Annunciation, described the terrifying moments after learning about the shooting.
“My husband’s a firefighter, and he got a call saying there was an incident at the school,” she told local ABC affiliate KSTP. “He just took off on foot. We only found out about 15 minutes ago that our niece and nephew are safe. But it’s so awful and so scary.”
Law enforcement swarmed the area within minutes, evacuating students in pre-K through eighth grade. Small children, many still in their uniforms, were seen clutching their parents’ hands as they were led away from the school grounds.
“We’re talking about some of our youngest students, kids who just came back for their first week of school,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara in an afternoon briefing. “This is an unimaginable tragedy for these families and this community.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the shooting “a horrific act of violence” and confirmed that state authorities, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are all assisting local investigators.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was shattered by this,” Walz posted on social media.
President Donald Trump also addressed the nation via Truth Social:
“I’ve been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis. The White House is monitoring this terrible situation closely. Please join me in praying for everyone involved.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the attack “heinous” and vowed federal support: “I am praying for the victims and their families. We will assist local authorities in every way possible.”
Annunciation Catholic School, a cornerstone of the neighborhood for over 80 years, serves students from pre-K through eighth grade. The school’s church, where the shooting occurred, often hosts community events and is known as a safe haven for local families.
Parents gathered outside the school in tears, waiting for updates on their children. Some embraced each other. Others sat silently, clutching rosaries.
“This is not supposed to happen here,” said parishioner Linda Matthews, her voice breaking. “We’ve always thought of this church as a sanctuary.”
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting. Minneapolis Police confirmed that federal agencies are working to determine how the shooter obtained the weapon and whether the attack was planned.
“We are in the early stages of this investigation,” Chief O’Hara said. “Right now, our focus is on the victims, the families, and ensuring the safety of this community.”
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.